Massachusetts, a populous state with a land mass that crosses the breadth of the region, offers all the sensual delights and interesting features that are typical of New England. In terms of the outdoors, the state extends from the heavily forested Berkshire Mountains in the west to the delicate beaches and massive bluffs of Cape Cod to the east. Within these boundaries, outdoor fun encompasses everything from hiking and skiing and white water rafting in the Berkshires to strolling the downtown streets and ethnic enclaves of Boston to hopping aboard a whale-watching vessel in Gloucester or Provincetown.

Some of the Bay State’s regions are so well-known and well-loved they evoke sentimental imagery far and wide. Among them are Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, where the beaches, dunes, gardens, villages, and shops entrance visitors from all over the world. Excellent dining is found all over the state and good shopping is plentiful. Massachusetts is a prime place for family holidays and houses many fascinating museums.